Tetravalent bispecific receptors, the preparation and use thereof

Abstract

The invention relates to bispecific tetravalent receptors of the formula I ##STR1## or formula II ##STR2## against a tumor-associated antigen and against an agent active against tumors.

Description

This application is a continuation, of application Ser. No 08/109,986 filed Aug. 23, 1993, now abandoned, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/891,739, filed Jun. 1, 1992, abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to tetravalent bispecific receptors which are prepared by genetic manipulation by fusion of the DNA which codes for the heavy chain of an F(ab')2 fragment of an antibody (I) with (a) DNA which codes for the heavy chain of an F(ab')2 molecule of a second antibody (II), in which the CH1 domain is replaced by a CH3 domain (formula I), or with (b) the DNA which codes for a single chain FV fragment of an antibody (II) (formula II), by means of suitable linkers. The expression of these fusion genes in mammalian cells together with the genes for the corresponding light chains, which in the case of the construct (a) are composed on the one hand of a VL exon of specificity I and a CK exon, and on the other hand of a VL exon of specificity II and a CH3 exon, and in the case of the construct (b) only of a VL exon of specificity I and a CK exon, yields tetravalent bispecific receptors. In this case the CH1 domains are connected to the VH2 domains via 1 to 10 hinge regions (H) and a suitable peptide linker L. The antibody specificities described in European Patent Application EP-A2-0404 097 are preferably employed. They are, inter alia, on the one hand specificities which are directed against an epitope, which is located on the cell membrane or in the interstitium of a tumor-associated antigen. On the other hand, these are specificities which are directed against high or low molecular weight ligands which in turn bind an agent which is active against tumors, or bind this active agent directly.

EP-A2-0404 097 describes bispecific and oligospecific, mono- and oligovalent receptors which are prepared by genetic manipulation by fusion of DNA coding for F(ab) fragments of antibodies of two or more different specificities by means of suitable linkers. In this case, one specificity is; preferably directed either against an epitope, which, is located on the cell membrane or in the interstitium, of a tumor-associated antigen (TAA) or against an epitope in the tumor endothelium (TE), while the other specificities relate to high or low molecular weight ligands and react, for example, with the complexons ethylenediaminetetraacetate and diethylenetriaminepentaacetate in yttrium-90-complexed form (EDTA-90Y and DTPA-90Y respectively). In a particularly preferred embodiment, the binding to the complexons takes place on the complexon receptor arm via fos-jun interaction (or else avidin-biotin interaction). Other preferred specificities have catalytic properties.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

Bispecific antibodies have hitherto been prepared by the following methods

chemical coupling of antibodies of different specificity via heterobifunctional linkers (H. Paulus, Behring Inst. Mitt. 78, (1985), 118-132)

fusion of hybrids which are already available and which secrete different monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), and isolation of the bispecific monovalent portion (U.S. Staerz and M. J. Bevan, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 83, (1986) 1453-1457)

transfection of the light and heavy chain genes of two different MAbs (4 genes) into murine myeloma cells or other eukaryotic expression systems and isolation of the bispecific monovalent portion (U. Zimmermann, Rev. Physio. Biochem. Pharmacol. 105 (1986), 176-260; J. van Dijk et al., Int. J. Cancer 43, (1989), 944-349).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Such bispecific antibodies are employed for the therapy and diagnosis of malignant tumors. The principle of the method comprises in the first step a saturation of the epitopes on the target cells which are recognized by one of the two specificities on by multiple high dose injections of the bispecific macromolecule. In the second step, which comprises interruption of the treatment for several days, autoelimination of the non-specifically adsorbed bispecific antibodies from the non-target tissues takes place.

This autoelimination can be speeded up by injection of an anti-idiotype antibody which is coupled to sugar residues, preferably galactose, and which is directed against the anti-tumor arm of the bispecific receptor.

The third step in the method comprises i.v. injection of a radiolabeled, hydrophilic, low molecular weight ligand which does not accumulate in cells, has a short residence time in the body, has high complexation constants for beta- and gamma-emitters such as 90Y, 186Re, 188Re, 189Re, 99mTc or 111In and binds with high affinity to the second specificity of the bispecific antibody. This step achieves accumulation of the radioactive ligand, together with a longer residence on the target tissue, which results in the selective destruction of the target tissue or makes diagnosis possible, for example of metastases.

We have found that tetravalent bispecific receptors of the formula I or formula II can be prepared particularly well by genetic manipulation because they are expressed considerably more efficiently than bispecific antibodies generated by other methods. An additional factor is that the avidity of the original antibodies for their corresponding antigens is retained in the constructs according to the invention. Preferred constructs have 1 to 5, very preferably 1, hinge region between CH1 and VH2, because such constructs are expressed particularly efficiently in BHK cells. Preferably employed as linkers are the sequences corresponding to the peptide sequence (Gly-Gly-Gly-Gly-Ser)x (SEQ ID NO:1) with x=3 to 5 or GEAAPAAAPAAAAAGG (SEQ ID NO:2). Otherwise, the antibody V gene fragments or specificities described or preferred in the abovementioned EP-A2-0404 097 are also preferably employed in this case. ##STR3##

The construction of a fusion gene which codes for a tetravalent bispecific receptor molecule is described by way of example hereinafter. Unless otherwise noted, the techniques used for this are taken from the book "Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual" (T. Maniatis et al., 1989). Further details are described in EP-A2-0404 097, to which particular reference is made here.

The present invention accordingly relates to bispecific tetravalent receptors of the formula I or formula II, to processes for the preparation thereof and to the use thereof. It is preferable for one specificity to be directed against animal or human tumor-specific antigens and the other specificity to have catalytic or enzymatic activity or be directed against a completing agent. In another preferred embodiment, one specificity derives from the monoclonal antibodies with the variable regions shown in Tab. 2, 3, 4 or 5 in EP-A2-0404 097. The variable regions disclosed in Tab. 2, 3, 4, and 5 of European application 0 404 097 are present in FIGS. 27-34.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

PAC EXAMPLE 1

A derivative of an M13 phage (VH PCR) which contains the 5' part of a heavy chain gene composed of promoter region, signal exon, intron 1, VH exon and intron 2 (R. Orlandi et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, Vol. 86, 3833-3837, 1988) was cleaved with the restriction endonucleases HindIII and BamHI, and the insert was isolated and cloned into a HindIII/BamHI-cleaved KS+ phasmid (pBluescript KSR+, Stratagene LaJolla, Calif., USA). The phasmid clone (A) which contains the insert cut out of the VH PCR was identified by restriction analysis and nucleic acid sequence analysis (FIG. 1).

EXAMPLE 2

The phasmid clone (A) was cleaved with XbaI and HindII, the XbaI cleavage site was made blunt ended using polymerase and dNTPs, and the DNA fragment with the V gene exon was isolated. The isolated DNA fragment was then cloned into a KS+ phasmid from which the polylinker and the regions adjacent to the polylinker had been deleted by PvuII digestion. The clone (B) which contains the VH insert and the regions of the KS+ polylinker located between the XbaI and BamHI or HindII and HindIII cleavage sites was identified (FIG. 2). The phasmid B was used to clone the VH genes of the antibodies I and II (VH1 and VH2) after amplification from the cDNA of the hybrid cells. Amplification of the VH genes was carried out by the method described by R. Orlandi et al. (1989, loc. cit.). The phasmid clone B with the VH1 gene is called B1, and the phasmid clone B with the VH2 gene is called B2 (R. M. Hudziak et al., Cell., Vol. 31, 137-146, 1982; F. Lee et al., Nature, Vol. 294, 228, 1981).

EXAMPLE 3

A pUC 19 plasmid which contains the CH1 exon and the first hinge exon of a human IgG3 gene (EP-A2-0404 097; FIG. 3 ibidem: IgG3 (F(ab')2 1H)), was cleaved with the restriction endonuclease HindIII, and the cleavage sites were made blunt ended with Klenow DNA polymerase. This was followed by partial cleavage with PstI, and the DNA fragment with the CH1 exon and the H1 exon was isolated and cloned into a pUC 18 plasmid cleaved with PstI and HindII. The clone (C) which harbors a BamHI cleavage site 5' of the insert and a HindIII cleavage site 3' of the insert was isolated (FIG. 3).

EXAMPLE 4

The plasmid clone C was cleaved with HindIII, and the cleavage sites were filled in with Klenow DNA polymerase. Then the insert with the CH1 and H1 exons was cut out with BamHI, isolated and cloned into a KS+ phasmid (pBluescriptR IIKS+, Stratagene, LaJolla, Calif., USA). The KS+ phasmid had been cleaved with XbaI, the XbaI cleavage sites made blunt ended in with Klenow DNA polymerase and subsequently cut with BamHI. The phasmid clone (D) which contains the insert with the CH1 and hinge 1 exons in an orientation in which a BamHI and a HindIII cleavage site are located on the 5' side of the insert was isolated (FIG. 4).

EXAMPLE 5

The phasmid clone (B1) was cleaved with HindIII and BamHI, and the insert with the VH gene of antibody I was isolated and cloned into the vector (D) which had likewise been cleaved with HindIII and BamHI. The clone (E) which contains the VH1 gene, the CH1 and the hinge 1 exon was isolated (FIG. 5).

EXAMPLE 6

A DNA fragment (F) which contains a VH gene extended by a linker and harbors at its 5' end a cleaved PvuII cleavage site and at its 3' end a BamHI cleavage site (FIG. 6) was; amplified from the phasmid vector B2 by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using the oligonucleotides VHOligoI and VHOligoII (Tab. 1) (SEQ ID NOS:3 and 4). This fragment was cleaved with BamHI and cloned into a BamHI/PvuII cleaved KS+ vector in which one of the two internal PvuII cleavage sites had previously been destroyed by Asp718/PvuII cleavage, filling-in of the cleavage sites and religation.

TABLE 1
______________________________________
(SEQ ID NO:3)
VH OligoI:
PvuII
5'               CT.GCC.GCC.CCC.GCA.GCC.GCA.
GCC.GCA.GGC.GGC.CAG.GTC.CAA.CTG.CAG.GAG.
AGC.GGT.CCA.GG
(SEQ ID NO:4)
VH OligoII:
BamHI
5'                                 3'
CGG.GGA.TCC.TAT.AAA.TCT.CTG.GC
______________________________________

The phasmid clone (F) which contains the amplified fragment was isolated (FIG. 6).

EXAMPLE 7

The oligonucleotides OligoIII and IV (Tab. 2) (SEQ ID NOS:5 and 6) were annealed together, and the resulting DNA fragment was ligated into the phasmid clone (F) cleaved with PvuII (FIG. 7). The phasmid clone (G) which contains a fusion exon composed of a hinge exon, an oligonucleotide linker and the VH2 gene was isolated.

TABLE 2
__________________________________________________________________________
Oligo III:                       (SEQ ID NO:5)
5'
Hind III     Sph I
GCG.GAA.GCT.TCG.GGC.ATG.CTA.ATC.TTC.TCT.CTT.GCA.GAG.
CCC.AAA.TCT.TGT.GAC.ACA.CCT.CCC.CCG.TGC.CCA.AGG.TGC.
CCA.GGA.CAG 3'
Oligo IV:                        (SEQ ID NO:6)
5'
CTG.TCC.TGG.GCA.CCT.TGG.GCA.CGG.GGG.AGG.TGT.GTC.ACA.
AGA.TTT.GGG.CTC.TGC.AAG.AGA.GAA.GAT.TAG.CAT.GCC.CGA.
AGC.TTC.CGC 3'                          Sph I
Hind III
__________________________________________________________________________

EXAMPLE 8

The CH3 exon and 3' NT region of the IgG3 gene were amplified out of the plasmid clone 54.1.24, which contains a human IgG3 C gene (EP-A2-0404 097, FIG. 2), with the oligonucleotides V and VI (Tab. 3) (SEQ ID NO:7 and 8) and cloned into the BamHI and EcoRI cleavage sites of a pUC 19 plasmid (FIG. 8). The plasmid clone (H) which contains the CH3 exon of the IgG3 gene was isolated.

TABLE 3
______________________________________
Oligo V:
(SEQ ID NO:7)
5'              BamHI
3'
CC.TCT.GCC.CTG.GGA.TCC.ACC.GCT.GTG.CC
Oligo VI:
(SEQ ID NO:8)
5'            EcoRI
3'
AAC.CAT.CAC.GAA.TTC.ACA.GGG.GCC
______________________________________

EXAMPLE 9

The plasmid clone (H) was cleaved with BamHI and EcoRI, and the DNA fragment which harbors the CH3 exon was cloned into the phasmid clone (G) cleaved with BamHI and EcoRI (FIG. 3). The phasmid clone (I) which contains the hinge/linker,/VH2 fusion exon and the CH3 exon was isolated.

EXAMPLE 10

The phasmid clones (E) and (I) were cleaved with HindIII and SphI. The insert of the clone (E) was cloned into the HindIII and SphI cleavage sites of the phasmid clone (I). The phasmid clone (K) containing an Ig heavy chain fusion gene which is composed of signal exon, VH1 exon, CH1 exon, hinge 1 exon, hinge/linker/VH2 MAbII fusion exon and CH3 exon was isolated (FIG. 10).

EXAMPLE 11

The HindIII-EcoRI fragment with the fusion gene was cut out of the phasmid clone (K) and cloned into a pAB Stop expression vector (FIG. 19, pAB Stop is a derivative of the pAB 3 vector (G. Zettlmeiβl et al., BIM, 82, 26-34, 1988) in which the AT III gene has been replaced by a polylinker) whose BamHI fragment had been replaced by an EcoRI linker. The clone (L) which contains the fusion gene was isolated (FIG. 11). The clone (L) was expanded and used for transfections in mammalian cells.

EXAMPLE 12

Construction of light chain gene: The phasmid clone (B) was cleaved with HindIII and BamHI, and the VH insert was replaced by the VK insert isolated from the vector VKPCR (R. Orlandi et al., 1989, loc. cit.). The phasmid clone (M) which harbors a signal exon and a VK exon was isolated (FIG. 12). The phasmid clone was used to clone the amplified VK genes of MAbs I and II. The vector M with the VK1 gene was called M1 and the vector M with the VK2 gene was called M2.

EXAMPLE 13

The human CK gene (Heiter et al., J. of Biol. Chem., 257: 1516-1522, 1982) was isolated as EcoRI fragment and cloned into the SmaI cleavage site of a pUC 19 plasmid. The clone (N) which contains the human CK gene was isolated (FIG. 13).

EXAMPLE 14

The clone (N) was cleaved with EcoRI and HindIII, and the CK insert was isolated and cloned into an EcoRI/HindIII-cleaved KS+ vector. The phasmid clone (O) which contains the CK insert was isolated (FIG. 14).

EXAMPLE 15

The clone (O) was cleaved with BamHI, and the CK insert was isolated and cloned into a BamHI-cleaved pAB Stop vector. The clone (P) which contains the CK insert in an orientation in which the 5' end of the CK gene is in the vicinity of the HindIII cleavage site of the pAB Stop vector was isolated (FIG. 15).

EXAMPLE 16

The clone (P) was partially cleaved with BamHI, and the cleavage sites were made blunt ended in with Klenow DNA polymerase and religated. The clone (Q) in which the BamHI cleavage site 3' of the CK gene is destroyed was identified (FIG. 16).

EXAMPLE 17

The phasmid clone (M1) with the VK1 gene was cleaved with HindIII and BamHI. The insert with the VK gene was isolated and ligated into the HindIII and BamHI cleavage site of the expression vector (Q). The clone (R) which contains an intact kappa light chain gene with the specificity of the antibody I was identified (FIG. 17).

EXAMPLE 18

The plasmid clone (H) with the CH3 exon of the human IgG3 gene was cleaved with EcoRI and HindIII, and the CH3 insert was isolated and cloned into an EcoRI/HindIII-cleaved KS+ vector. The phasmid clone (S) which contains the CH3 insert was isolated (FIG. 18).

EXAMPLE 19

The clone (S) was cleaved with BamHI, and the CH3 insert was isolated and cloned into a BamHI-cleaved pAB Stop vector (FIG. 19). The clone (T) which contains the CH3 insert in an orientation in which the 5' end of the CH3 exon is in the vicinity of the HindIII cleavage site of the pAB Stop vector was isolated (FIG. 20).

EXAMPLE 20

The clone (T) was partially cleaved with BamHI, and the cleavage site was made blunt ended in with Klenow DNA polymerase and religated. The clone (U) in which the BamHI cleavage site 3' of the CH3 gene is destroyed was identified (FIG. 21).

EXAMPLE 21

The phasmid clone (M2) with the VK2 gene was cleaved with HindIII and BamHI. The insert with the VK gene was isolated and ligated into the HindIII and BamHI cleavage sites of the expression vector (U). The clone (V) which contains an intact light chain gene with the specificity of the antibody II and a CH3 exon as constant region was identified (FIG. 22).

The expression plasmids L, R and V were cotransfected (30) together with suitable phasmids harboring selection markers, such as, for example, pRMH140 (FIG. 23) (R. M. Hudziak et al., 1982, loc. cit.) or pSV2dhfr (FIG. 24) (F. Lee et al., 1981, loc. cit.) into mammalian cells, transfectoma clones were selected by selection pressure, and those transfectoma clones which secrete bivalent tetraspecific receptor molecules were identified by assaying the supernatants with suitable assays.

__________________________________________________________________________
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1               5
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60
#               61
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60
#             87   GCCC AGGACAG
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60
#             87   GAAG CTTCCGC
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#                24CAGG GGCC
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-     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:9:
- Gln Val Gln Leu Gln Glu Ser Gly Gly Gly Le - #u Val Gln Pro Gly Gly
#                15
- Ser Leu Arg Leu Ser Cys Ala Thr Ser Gly Ph - #e Ser Asp Tyr Tyr Met
#            30
- Asn Trp Val Arg Gln Pro Pro Gly Lys Ala Le - #u Glu Trp Leu Gly Phe
#        45
- Ile Ser Asn Lys Pro Asn Gly His Thr Thr Gl - #u Tyr Ser Ala Ser Val
#    60
- Lys Gly Arg Phe Thr Ile Ser Arg Asp Asn Se - #r Gln Ser Ile Leu Tyr
#80
- Leu Gln Met Asn Thr Leu Arg Ala Glu Asp Se - #r Ala Thr Tyr Tyr Cys
#                95
- Ala Arg Asp Lys Gly Ile Arg Trp Tyr Phe As - #p Val Trp Gly Gln Gly
#           110
- Thr Thr Val Thr Val Ser Ser
115
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(B) TYPE: nucleic acid
(C) STRANDEDNESS: single
(D) TOPOLOGY: linear
-     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)
-     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:10:
- CAGGTCCAAC TGCAGGAGTC TGGAGGAGGC TTGGTACAGC CTGGGGGTTC TC - #TGAGACTC
60
- TCCTGCGCAA CTTCTGGGTT CAGTGATTAC TACATGAACT GGGTCCGCCA GC - #CTCCAGGA
120
- AAAGCACTTG AGTGGTTGGG TTTTATTTCA AACAAACCTA ATGGTCACAC AA - #CAGAGTAC
180
- AGTGCATCTG TGAAGGGTCG GTTCACCATC TCCAGAGATA ATTCCCAAAG CA - #TCCTCTAT
240
- CTTCAAATGA ACACCCTGAG AGCTGAGGAC AGTGCCACTT ATTATTGTGC AA - #GAGATAAG
300
- GGAATACGAT GGTACTTCGA TGTCTGGGGC CAAGGGACCA CGGTCACCGT CT - #CCTCA
357
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#acids    (A) LENGTH: 97 amino
(B) TYPE: amino acid
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(D) TOPOLOGY: linear
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-     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:11:
- Ala Ile Leu Ser Ala Ser Pro Gly Glu Lys Va - #l Thr Met Thr Cys Arg
#                15
- Ala Ser Ser Ser Val Ser Tyr Met His Trp Ty - #r Gln Gln Lys Pro Gly
#            30
- Ser Ser Pro Lys Pro Trp Ile Tyr Ala Thr Se - #r Asn Leu Ala Ser Gly
#        45
- Val Pro Ala Arg Phe Ser Gly Ser Gly Ser Gl - #y Thr Ser Tyr Ser Leu
#    60
- Thr Ile Ile Arg Val Glu Ala Glu Asp Ala Al - #a Thr Tyr Tyr Cys Gln
#80
- Gln Trp Ser Ser Asn Pro Leu Thr Phe Gly Al - #a Gly Thr Lys Leu Glu
#                95
- Ile
- (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:12:
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#pairs    (A) LENGTH: 292 base
(B) TYPE: nucleic acid
(C) STRANDEDNESS: single
(D) TOPOLOGY: linear
-     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)
-     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:12:
- AGCAATCCTG TCTGCATCTC CAGGGGAGAA GGTCACAATG ACTTGCAGGG CC - #AGCTCAAG
60
- TGTAAGTTAC ATGCACTGGT ACCAGCAGAA GCCAGGATCC TCCCCCAAAC CC - #TGGATTTA
120
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180
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240
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292
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-     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:13:
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#                15
- Leu Thr Cys Thr Val Thr Gly Tyr Ser Ile Th - #r Ser Gly Tyr Ser Trp
#            30
- His Trp Ile Arg Gln Phe Pro Gly Asn Lys Le - #u Glu Trp Met Gly Tyr
#        45
- Ile Gln Tyr Ser Gly Ile Thr Asn Tyr Asn Pr - #o Ser Leu Lys Ser Arg
#    60
- Ile Ser Ile Thr Arg Asp Thr Ser Lys Asn Gl - #n Phe Phe Leu Gln Leu
#80
- Asn Ser Val Thr Thr Glu Asp Thr Ala Thr Ty - #r Tyr Cys Ala Arg Glu
#                95
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#           110
- Val Thr Val Ser Ser
115
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60
- GTCACTGGCT ACTCCATCAC CAGTGGTTAT AGCTGGCACT GGATCCGGCA GT - #TTCCAGGA
120
- AACAAACTGG AATGGATGGG CTACATACAG TACAGTGGTA TCACTAACTA CA - #ACCCCTCT
180
- CTCAAAAGTC GAATCTCTAT CACTCGAGAC ACATCCAAGA ACCAGTTCTT CC - #TGCAGTTG
240
- AATTCAGTGA CTACTGAGGA CACAGCCACA TATTACTGTG CAAGAGAAGA CT - #ATGATTAC
300
#            351ATGTCTG GGGCGCAGGG ACCACGGTCA CCGTCTCCTC A
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- Leu Thr Gln Ser Pro Ala Ile Met Ser Ala Se - #r Leu Gly Glu Glu Ile
#                15
- Thr Leu Thr Cys Ser Thr Ser Ser Ser Val Se - #r Tyr Met His Trp Tyr
#            30
- Gln Gln Lys Ser Gly Thr Ser Pro Lys Leu Le - #u Ile Tyr Ser Thr Ser
#        45
- Asn Leu Ala Ser Gly Val Pro Ser Arg Phe Se - #r Gly Ser Gly Ser Gly
#    60
- Thr Phe Tyr Ser Leu Thr Ile Ser Ser Val Gl - #u Ala Glu Asp Ala Ala
#80
- Asp Tyr Tyr Cys His Gln Trp Ser Ser Tyr Pr - #o Thr Phe Gly Gly Gly
#                95
- Thr Lys Leu Glu
100
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(C) STRANDEDNESS: single
(D) TOPOLOGY: linear
-     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)
-     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:16:
- CTGACCCAGT CTCCAGCAAT CATGTCTGCA TCTCTAGGGG AGGAGATCAC CC - #TAACCTGC
60
- AGTACCAGCT CGAGTGTAAG TTACATGCAC TGGTACCAGC AGAAGTCAGG CA - #CTTCTCCC
120
- AAACTCTTGA TTTATAGCAC ATCCAACCTG GCTTCTGGAG TCCCTTCTCG CT - #TCAGTGGC
180
- AGTGGGTCTG GGACCTTTTA TTCTCTCACA ATCAGCAGTG TGGAGGCTGA AG - #ATGCTGCC
240
- GATTATTACT GCCATCAGTG GAGTAGTTAT CCCACGTTCG GAGGGGGGAC CA - #AGCTGGAG
300
- (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:17:
-      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:
#acids    (A) LENGTH: 115 amino
(B) TYPE: amino acid
(C) STRANDEDNESS: single
(D) TOPOLOGY: linear
-     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide
-     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:17:
- Gln Val Gln Leu Gln Gln Ser Gly Pro Glu Le - #u Val Lys Pro Gly Ala
#                15
- Ser Val Lys Met Ser Cys Lys Ala Ser Gly Ty - #r Thr Phe Thr Tyr Tyr
#            30
- Val Ile His Trp Val Lys Gln Lys Pro Gly Gl - #n Gly Leu Glu Trp Ile
#        45
- Gly Tyr Ile His Pro Tyr Asn Ala Gly Thr Gl - #u Tyr Asn Glu Lys Phe
#    60
- Lys Gly Lys Ala Thr Leu Thr Ser Asp Lys Se - #r Ser Ser Thr Ala Tyr
#80
- Met Glu Leu Ser Ser Leu Thr Ser Glu Asp Se - #r Ala Val Tyr Tyr Cys
#                95
- Ser Met Gly Arg Gly Gly Asp Tyr Trp Gly Gl - #n Gly Thr Thr Val Thr
#           110
- Val Ser Ser
115
- (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:18:
-      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:
#pairs    (A) LENGTH: 345 base
(B) TYPE: nucleic acid
(C) STRANDEDNESS: single
(D) TOPOLOGY: linear
-     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)
-     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:18:
- CAGGTCCAAC TGCAGCAGTC TGGACCTGAG CTGGTAAAGC CTGGGGCTTC AG - #TGAAGATG
60
- TCCTGCAAGG CTTCTGGATA CACATTCACT TACTATGTTA TTCACTGGGT GA - #AACAGAAG
120
- CCTGGGCAGG GCCTTGAGTG GATTGGATAC ATTCATCCTT ACAATGCTGG TA - #CTGAGTAC
180
- AATGAGAAGT TCAAAGGCAA GGCCACACTG ACTTCAGACA AATCCTCCAG CA - #CAGCCTAC
240
- ATGGAGCTCA GCAGCCTGAC CTCTGAGGAC TCTGCGGTCT ATTACTGTTC AA - #TGGGACGA
300
#                 345CA AGGGACCACG GTCACCGTCT CCTCA
- (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:19:
-      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:
#acids    (A) LENGTH: 100 amino
(B) TYPE: amino acid
(C) STRANDEDNESS: single
(D) TOPOLOGY: linear
-     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide
-     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:19:
- Leu Thr Gln Ser Pro Ala Ile Met Ser Ala Se - #r Pro Gly Glu Lys Val
#                15
- Thr Met Thr Cys Ser Ala Ser Ser Ser Val Se - #r Tyr Met His Trp Tyr
#            30
- Gln Gln Lys Ser Gly Thr Ser Pro Lys Arg Tr - #p Ile Tyr Asp Thr Ser
#        45
- Lys Leu Ala Ser Gly Val Pro Ala Arg Phe Se - #r Gly Ser Gly Ser Gly
#    60
- Thr Ser Tyr Ser Leu Thr Ile Ser Ser Met Gl - #u Ala Glu Asp Ala Ala
#80
- Thr Tyr Tyr Cys Gln Gln Trp Ser Ser Asn Pr - #o Phe Thr Phe Gly Ala
#                95
- Gly Thr Lys Leu
100
- (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:20:
-      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:
#pairs    (A) LENGTH: 300 base
(B) TYPE: nucleic acid
(C) STRANDEDNESS: single
(D) TOPOLOGY: linear
-     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)
-     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:20:
- CTGACCCAGT CTCCAGCAAT TATGTCTGCA TCTCCTGGGG AGAAGGTCAC CA - #TGACCTGC
60
- AGTGCCAGCT CAAGTGTAAG TTACATGCAC TGGTACCAGC AGAAGTCAGG CA - #CCTCCCCC
120
- AAAAGATGGA TTTATGACAC ATCCAAACTG GCTTCTGGAG TCCCTGCTCG CT - #TCAGTGGC
180
- AGTGGGTCTG GGACCTCTTA CTCTCTCACA ATCAGCAGCA TGGAGGCTGA AG - #ATGCTGCC
240
- ACTTATTACT GCCAGCAGTG GAGTAGTAAC CCATTCACGT TCGGCGCGGG GA - #CCAAGCTG
300
- (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:21:
-      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:
#acids    (A) LENGTH: 116 amino
(B) TYPE: amino acid
(C) STRANDEDNESS: single
(D) TOPOLOGY: linear
-     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide
-     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:21:
- Ala Glu Ser Gly Pro Gly Leu Val Arg Leu Th - #r Ser Leu Ser Ile Thr
#                15
- Cys Thr Val Ser Gly Phe Ser Leu Ile Ser Ty - #r Gly Val His Trp Val
#            30
- Arg Gln Pro Pro Gly Lys Gly Leu Glu Trp Le - #u Gly Val Ile Trp Ala
#        45
- Gly Gly Ser Thr Asn Tyr Asn Ser Ala Leu Me - #t Ser Arg Leu Ser Ile
#    60
- Ser Lys Asp Asn Ser Lys Ser Gln Val Phe Le - #u Lys Met Asn Ser Leu
#80
- Gln Thr Gly Asp Thr Ala Ile Tyr Tyr Cys Al - #a Arg Gly Gly Asp Asp
#                95
- Tyr Asp Gly Phe Ala Tyr Trp Gly Gln Gly Th - #r Thr Val Thr Val Ser
#           110
- Ser Gly Glu Ser
115
- (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:22:
-      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:
#pairs    (A) LENGTH: 348 base
(B) TYPE: nucleic acid
(C) STRANDEDNESS: single
(D) TOPOLOGY: linear
-     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)
-     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:22:
- GCAGAGTCAG GGCCTGGCCT GGTGCGCCTC ACGAGCCTGT CCATCACTTG CA - #CTGTCTCT
60
- GGCTTTTCAT TAATTAGTTA TGGTGTACAC TGGGTTCGCC AGCCTCCAGG AA - #AGGGTCTG
120
- GAGTGGCTGG GAGTAATATG GGCAGGTGGA AGCACAAATT ATAATTCGGC TC - #TCATGTCC
180
- AGACTGAGCA TCAGCAAAGA CAACTCCAAG AGCCAAGTTT TCTTAAAAAT GA - #ACAGTCTG
240
- CAAACTGGTG ACACAGCCAT ATACTACTGT GCCAGAGGGG GGGATGATTA CG - #ATGGGTTT
300
#               348GGAC CACGGTCACC GTCTCCTCAG GTGAGTCC
- (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:23:
-      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:
#acids    (A) LENGTH: 109 amino
(B) TYPE: amino acid
(C) STRANDEDNESS: single
(D) TOPOLOGY: linear
-     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide
-     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:23:
- Leu Thr Gln Ser Pro Ser Ser Leu Ala Val Se - #r Ala Gly Glu Lys Val
#                15
- Thr Met Ser Cys Lys Ser Ser Gln Ser Leu Le - #u Ser Ser Thr Lys Arg
#            30
- Lys Asn Tyr Leu Ala Trp Tyr Gln Gln Lys Pr - #o Gly Gln Ser Pro Lys
#        45
- Leu Leu Ile Tyr Trp Ala Ser Thr Arg Glu Se - #r Gly Tyr Pro Asp Arg
#    60
- Phe Thr Gly Ser Gly Ser Gly Thr Asp Phe Th - #r Leu Thr Ile Ser Ser
#80
- Val Gln Ala Glu Asp Leu Ala Val Tyr Tyr Cy - #s Lys Gln Ser Tyr Asn
#                95
- Leu Arg Ala Phe Gly Gly Gly Thr Lys Leu Gl - #u Ile Lys
#           105
- (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:24:
-      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:
#pairs    (A) LENGTH: 327 base
(B) TYPE: nucleic acid
(C) STRANDEDNESS: single
(D) TOPOLOGY: linear
-     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)
-     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:24:
- CTGACCCAGT CTCCATCCTC CCTGGCTGTG TCAGCAGGAG AGAAGGTCAC TA - #TGAGCTGC
60
- AAATCCAGTC AGAGTCTGCT CAGCAGTACA AAGCGAAAGA ACTACTTGGC TT - #GGTACCAG
120
- CAGAAACCAG GTCAGTCTCC TAAACTACTG ATCTACTGGG CATCCACTCG GG - #AATCTGGG
180
- GTCCCTGATC GCTTCACAGG CAGTGGATCT GGGACAGATT TCACTCTCAC CA - #TCAGCAGT
240
- GTGCAGGCTG AAGACCTGGC AGTTTATTAC TGCAAACAAT CTTATAATCT TC - #GGGCGTTC
300
#            327   TGGA GATCAAA
__________________________________________________________________________

Claims

1. A bispecific, tetravalent antibody of FIG. 25 or FIG. 26 wherein H l represents an amino acid sequence comprising one or more hinge regions (H) and a linker peptide (l), thick lines represent peptide bonds, thin lines represent disulfide bridges connecting the two polypeptide chains of said antibody, and wherein the VL1 and VH1 domains of FIGS. 25 and 26 correspond to such domains of a first antibody and are paired naturally, the VL2 and VH2 domains of FIGS. 25 and 26 correspond to such domains of a second, different antibody and are paired naturally, and wherein the ch1 domains are bound to the VH2 domains by 1 to 10 hinge regions H and a suitable linker peptide l.

2. An antibody as claimed in claim 1, wherein the specificity of either the first antibody or the second antibody is directed against animal or human tumor-associated antigen.

3. An antibody as claimed in claim 1, wherein the specificity of either the first antibody or the second antibody has catalytic or enzymatic activity.

4. An antibody as claimed in claim 1, wherein the specificity of either the fast antibody or the second antibody is directed against animal or human tumor-associated antigen and the other antibody has catalytic or enzymatic activity.

5. An antibody as claimed in claim 1, wherein the specificity of either the fist antibody or the second antibody is directed against animal or human tumor-associated antigen and the other antibody specificity is directed against a complexon.

6. An antibody as claimed in claim 1, wherein the variable domains from the first antibody or the second antibody (II) are selected from the group comprising the variable domains of FIGS. 27-34.

7. A pharmaceutical composition comprising an effective amount of an antibody as claimed in claim 1 together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient.

8. A process for the preparation of an antibody as claimed in claim 1, which comprises providing DNA fragments coding for each polypetide chain comprising either VH1, ch1, VH2, CH3, or VL1, CK, or VL2, CH3, or VH1, ch1, VH2, VL2, or VL1, CK, as shown in FIGS. 25 or 26, connecting the appropriate domains by DNA coding for linkers, where appropriate, and expressing the appropriate combination of polypetide chains in a suitable expression system.

9. A bispecific, tetravalent antibody of FIG. 25 wherein H l represents an amino acid sequence comprising one or more hinge regions (H) and a linker peptide (l), thick lines represent peptide bonds, thin lines represent disulfide bridges connecting the two polypeptide chains of said antibody, in which the CH3 domains are replaced by human ch1 domains.